Beef field day Sept. 15

Beef herd owners will hear several ways to capture more value from their feeder calves during a field day, Sept. 15, at the University of Missouri South Farm.

“The second annual day will feature beef research and Extension programs at the Beef Research and Teaching Farm,” said Bob Weaber, MU Extension beef specialist. The farm is off Highway 63, south of Columbia, Mo.

Justin Sexten, new MU Extension beef nutritionist, will tell of “Adding Value to Calves by Backgrounding.”

“Value of Preconditioning and Evaluation of BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) Effects” will be described by John Paterson, beef researcher at Montana State University and former faculty member at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Two commercial operators also will talk about beef marketing. Justin Angel, co-owner of Eastern Missouri Commission Co., Bowling Green, Mo., will speak on the myth “Beef Cattle Marketing is Mystifying.” He will be followed by Dennis Fennewald, manager of Diamond O Feedyard, Butler, Mo., speaking on “Retained Ownership.”

Keynote speakers at noon include Mike John, manager of MFA Health Track and past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. John, a rancher from Huntsville, Mo., will give a “Beef Industry Update.”

Darrah Bullock, University of Kentucky, will speak on “Impact of Genetics on Adding Value in Beef Cattle.”

In addition to the speakers, there will be continuous demonstrations at the beef barns. Topics include feed-intake research, use of co-product feeds, use of timed artificial insemination and stockpiled fescue grazing.

There will be pasture walks on the newly established beef grazing paddocks.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Demonstrations start at 9 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m.

A free lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required; to reserve a meal, call Judy Burton at (573) 882-7327.

Commercial exhibits will be on display in the barns.

Additional information can be obtained from farm manager Phillip Brooks at (574) 823-7930.

The MU farm is located 2.6 miles south of the AC exit on Highway 63. It is on Old Millers Road, behind the KOMU-TV tower.